Humidity in Your Boa Constrictor Habitat

In this section of the boa constrictor care guide, we will talk about the importance of controlling humidity within you boa's habitat. I'll also give you some tips for maintaining the proper humidity levels for your snake.

The so-called common boa constrictor (B. c. imperator) is native to parts of Mexico, Central America, and the northern-most parts of areas of South America. If you keep going south, into Peru, Bolivia and Brazil, you enter the range of the so-called red-tailed boa constrictor (B. c. constrictor). Why am I giving you this geography and taxonomy lesson? Because you need to realize that the native habitats for these snakes are more humid than many places in the United States -- with the obvious exception of places like Florida.

So, depending on where you live, you may have to use some form of supplemental moisture to increase the relative humidity within your pet boa's habitat. That's what we are going to talk about in this section of the boa constrictor care guide.

Like all captive snakes, boas need a certain amount of relative humidity inside their cages. This helps them stay hydrated, and it also helps them shed their skin. Fortunately, it's fairly simple to maintain proper humidity levels inside a boa constrictor enclosure.

In my experience, boas do best when kept under the following conditions. The overall humidity in the cage should be about 60%, with additional moisture provided whenever the snake enters a shed cycle. You can provide this additional moisture in two ways -- by misting the cage substrate twice a day, or by putting a "moisture box" into the cage. You could even do both of these things when you boa sheds.

Of course, if you maintain a decent level of humidity in the cage year-round, and you keep fresh drinking water avaiable at all times, your boa constrictor might not need anything extra. Keep an eye on how the snake sheds, and you'll find out soon enough.

Shedding Problems in the Boa Constrictor

When boa constrictors are housed in environments that are too dry, the first sign is incomplete shedding. A healthy snake in an ideal captive environment will normally shed its skin in one long piece (sort of like when you turn a sock inside-out and pull it from your foot), or in several large pieces. This is what you want to happen.

But when the humidity is too low, or the snake is dehydrated for some other reason, the shed will often come off in many broken pieces. The snake will also be more likely to retain parts of the shed skin, which can build up over time. This can become a problem, especially if your boa retains the "eye cap" areas of skin over its eyes.

Generally speaking, boa constrictors will do well in cages with a relative humidity of around 60%. They also benefit from having fresh drinking water available at all times. In many homes in the United States, the humidity level may be near this level already, without any extra effort. But there are two scenarios that can lower the humidity level inside a home, and inside the snake's enclosure as well...

1. The winter months -- In the winter, most homes use artificial heat, such as a heat pump or a gas furnace. Home heating can really dry out the air and lower humidity levels. There's also less natural humidity in the winter, at least in most regions. So this is a time when your boa constrictor habitat may need extra attention.

2. Arid environments -- If you live in an arid environment, such as Arizona, you will probably have to do something to increase the humidity in your boa's cage. Your environment is much drier than what the snake is used to, so you'll have to compensate for that (perhaps by using a certain type of substrate, by misting the cage, or by offering a humidity box for the snake).

Let's say you live in Georgia or Florida, or some other place with high humidity. You might think you don't have to worry about humidity. This is true to a certain extent. But a more accurate statement is that you don't have to worry as much about humidity. You still need to monitor humidity levels and pay attention to how your snake sheds. Remember, the humidity outside your home and humidity inside the snake's cage are two different things entirely.